THE Welsh Premier club at the centre of a race row yesterday delivered a furious response to the claims made against them.

THE Welsh Premier club at the centre of a race row yesterday delivered a furious response to the claims made against them. Bangor City, reeling from allegations that some of their supporters aimed racist abuse at two Barry Town players, hit back to send the storm spilling over into open verbal warfare.

The North Wales club, set to face a Football Association of Wales probe into the claims, attacked Barry's handling of the row which flared up after last Saturday's league clash at Farrar Road.

And, though Bangor pledged to take action against one supporter who came onto the pitch and confronted the Barry goalkeeper, they poured scorn on claims that several supporters had chanted racist abuse.

"This whole issue has been blown out of all proportion," said Citizens secretary Alun Griffiths.

"Perhaps all this fuss would have been avoided had Barry said something to us after the game about what is alleged to have taken place.

"But I want to make it clear that they did not make any comments to me or the chairman - the first we learnt of the allegations was what was said in The Western Mail on Monday.

"Why put it in the paper before informing us? This matter could have been dealt with between the two clubs."

Dragons goalkeeper Abi Buruwa and his manager, Kenny Brown, claimed several Bangor supporters behind the goal shouted racial abuse at the Nigerian as well as winger Leon Jeanne.

But Griffiths stormed, "Our president was behind the goal in question and he didn't hear anything and neither did the referee.

"And if Kenny, who was on the field of play, felt there was a lot of abuse he should have informed the referee who could have then stopped the game.

"If it's proved that some fans did shout racist remarks - and it might be difficult to identify them - we would of course take action because we don't condone that.

"However, as I said, we feel this whole issue has been blown up into something that it is not."

Despite Barry insistence that the row won't damage their "excellent relations" with Bangor, it appeared last night that a rift had opened up between the two old rivals.

"Traditionally, we've had a good rapport with Barry, but I don't understand why all this has happened in the way it has," said Griffiths.

"Barry even stayed on after the game to watch the rugby with us in the bar, yet nothing was said then about these claims."

Griffiths is anxious that the affair does not leave Bangor tarred as a club with a big racist following.

"We have got one of the best sets of supporters in Wales - well over 1,000 people regularly turn out to watch our matches," he said.

"There is no racism here. We do not have a problem. Go to some Premier League grounds and that's where you're more likely to find it.

"Let me say again - we do not condone any racist remarks. We are fully committed to Uefa's Fair Play campaign against racism.

"And it doesn't matter if a player is Welsh, African, Chinese or Japanese - we welcome anyone at Bangor City."